Clifford A. Pickover

Discusses the history and current state of scientific understanding of black holes, exploring what they are, how they are formed, potential uses, and what they tell us about the fate of the universe.

In this unusual and penetrating work, Clifford Pickoverinternationally recognized science popularizer - takes us on a wild ride through the bizarre lives of brilliant, but eccentric geniuses who made significant contributions to science and philosophy. Unveiling the hidden secrets of a number of the most intelligent and prolific real-life mad scientists, Pickover delights us with unexpected stories of their obsessive personalities and strange phobias. These common threads lead us to wonder if creativity and genius are inextricably linked to madness. A highly entertaining collection of oddity and mischief, this original new work playfully uncovers the scandalous details that lurk behind the unseemly lives of these geniuses. We discover that the "Unabomber," Ted Kaczynski, a mathematical whiz with an IQ of 170, was pathologically shy, had an uncontrollable obsession with loud sounds, especially earthy bodily noises, and enjoyed playing practical jokes in high school, such as creating homemade gadgets that would pop loudly and emit a stream of violet smoke amid class - a compulsion that may have turned deadly. Then there was the great inventor Nikola Tesla who had a peculiar love for pigeons, particularly white ones, and was terrified of women's pearls. Plenty of other surprises abound, including the statistician and world explorer Francis Galton who quantified anything he saw - including the curves of women's bodies, and then there are others who all lived exceedingly unusual sexual or celibate lives. With Pickover's unique ability to draw the reader into this marvelous web of madness, he amuses us with remarkably quirky quotations attributed to these geniuses, and enchants us with intriguing yet morbid anecdotes celebrating the wonderfully unconventional childhood and careers of these individuals. Moreover, a fascinating "curiosity smorgasbord" to whet our appetites teases us with provocative questions to ponder along the way, such as: Where is Einstein's brain? Is it true that humans use only 10% of their brain capacity? Also, find out how you would fit into the astonishing results of Pickover's human mind survey on intelligence, memory, and the brain, which he conducted exclusively over the Internet.

Heilbroner calls the first view that of the Distant Past - the immense span that begins with the Stone Age, moves through the great early civilizations of the Near East to the glory that was Greece and the grandeur that was Rome, and ends only with the advent of modern times in the eighteenth century. Heilbroner makes the bold assertion that through all this vast panorama a single phrase depicts humanity's expectations of life on earth: it will be like the past. As he asks, what reason was there for expecting anything else? Change comes with the second, much shorter period, from the 1700s to the mid 1950s. Heilbroner calls it Yesterday. Now three immense forces, unknown in the Distant Past, dominate the expectations of the West. One of these is science, with its promise of controlling nature. A second is the advent of a dynamic means of organizing production called capitalism. And a third is the appearance of the revolutionary idea that the people themselves were the master of their destinies. Together these three forces imbue Yesterday's view of the future with an idea utterly unknown in the Distant Past: the expectation that the future will be better than the present. The third view is that of Today. Heilbroner points out that our own view of the future is still linked to science, capitalism, and democracy. What is new is that these powerful forces no longer appear as unambiguous carriers of progress. We look to science with fears as well as hopes; capitalism on a global scale brings economic difficulties along with new horizons; the expression of mass political sentiments conjures up the nightmares of Yugoslavia and Africa as well as possibilities for a widening of democratic government.

A Passion for Mathematics is an educational, entertaining trip through the curiosities of the math world, blending an eclectic mix of history, biography, philosophy, number theory, geometry, probability, huge numbers, and mind-bending problems into a delightfully compelling collection that is sure to please math buffs, students, and experienced mathematicians alike. In each chapter, Clifford Pickover provides factoids, anecdotes, definitions, quotations, and captivating challenges that range from fun, quirky puzzles to insanely difficult problems. Readers will encounter mad mathematicians, strange number sequences, obstinate numbers, curious constants, magic squares, fractal geese, monkeys typing Hamlet, infinity, and much, much more. A Passion for Mathematics will feed readers' fascination while giving them problem-solving skills a great workout!

"Clifford Pickover, a leading figure in the field of scientific visualization, uses a creative blend of science fiction, mathematics, astronomy, and computer graphics to introduce the reader to chaos science - the science behind many intricate and unpredictable patterns in mathematics and nature." "Chaos in Wonderland describes the biology, sociology, and technology of the fictional Latoocarfian civilization of Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons. On Ganymede, creatures' heads are composed of semiconductor materials that enable them to spend their days in contemplation of beautiful mathematical patterns created by chaos. Status in their society is determined by the beauty of their fractal dreams." "Chaos in Wonderland also includes a cornucopia of curiosities: games played on fractal boards, instructions on how to create globular star clusters using personal computers, a listing of the "100 strangest mathematical titles ever published," and additional puzzles to stimulate the imagination. Also included is a novella describing the adventures of two scientists exploring a world filled with fractal spiders, zinc-oxide ants, and Ganymedean mathematicians. The book closes with a fascinating appendix that lists hundreds of resources for readers interested in computer art, astronomy, fractals, and bizarre technology."--Jacket.

Fractal Horizons is a practical guide to exploring the inexhaustible reservoir of magnificent shapes, images, and ideas associated with fractals. From art poster designs to educational tools, computer-generated fractal patterns' usage is booming. Fractal Horizons gives an account of the state of the art and speculates on advances in the future. Contributors explore the challenges of using fractals in education, art, music, fashion, chess, medicine, and more. Filled with beautiful images, an intriguing array of artistic and scientific topics, and computer/mathematical recipes, the book will appeal to anyone fascinated by unusual ideas and optically provocative art.

"For countless generations people of every culture have practiced a broad range of dramatic and sometimes frightening techniques in an attempt to peer into the future. In this book, Clifford Pickover presents an exhaustive list of fortune-telling methods, from the ominous practice of human sacrifice to reading tarot cards.". "Pickover not only explores a vast and colorful array of methods for prediction - including dreaming - he also evaluates the accuracy of some of the most astonishing prophecies made throughout history. Just how accurate were such famous soothsayers as Nostradamus, the Delphic Oracle, Edgar Cayce, the children of Fatima (whose third vision has only recently been revealed), and dozens more?". "This book takes us one step further by exploring our own inner psyches: Why does looking into the future provide a source of solace in a world filled with uncertainty, disease, and chance? And why do the most noted prognosticators so often warn of natural catastrophers of biblical proportions, such as earthquakes and floods that will signal the end of the world?"--BOOK JACKET.

"From prolific polymath Clifford Pickover-the ingenious author of The Math Book and The Physics Book-comes a stunning and inspirational volume that celebrates the beauty and wisdom of mathematics. Cliff's devotional will feature one thought-provoking and original quotation on a mathematics-related theme, in addition to a stunning example of mathematically generated art, for every day of the year. Readers will also learn which notable mathematicians share their own birthdays, discovering more about them in a brief biographical dictionary at the back of the book. In an appealing small, chunky hardcover format, The Mathematician's Devotional will be a wonderful gift for math enthusiasts worldwide, young and old"--